Holding the big carbon polluters accountable for climate change

On this page

Page - August 12, 2015

The primary driver of climate change is the cumulative (historic) emissions that have been pumped out the atmosphere since the industrial revolution.

In a groundbreaking study by scientist Richard Heede, just 90 carbon major entities – including the worlds' largest fossil fuel companies – are responsible for an estimated 65% of all anthropogenic CO2 between 1751 and 2013. The 50 investor-owned carbon major companies contributed 315 Gt CO2e, equivalent to 21.72% of estimated global industrial emissions through 2010.

This study shows that those who have contributed the lion’s share of greenhouse gas emissions can now be named and challenged for their role in the climate crisis, which countries like the Philippines are now experiencing.

There is a huge mismatch between the astronomical profits that the companies are making from burning fossil fuels vis-à-vis the cost unjustly being shouldered by those suffering or threatened by impacts of climate change. This is why companies are being asked to keep the fossil fuels in the ground and not block clean technologies that will close the door on pollution to help us transition to a clean future powered by renewable energy.

Climate Change and Human Rights Petition

Climate change is fueling extreme weather events that batter vulnerable nations like the Philippines—a country that is least responsible for the climate crisis—is facing the brunt of extreme weather events in the form of ferocious super typhoons or severe droughts. It is high time to expose those responsible for climate change and hold them to account for their harmful activities that have taken a tremendous toll on humanity.

In the Philippines, a climate change and human rights complaint was delivered to the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHR) calling for an investigation into the responsibility of big fossil fuel companies for fuelling catastrophic climate change resulting in human rights violations.

The complaint, which is the first of its kind in the world, is being brought forward by typhoon survivors, advocates and non-governmental organisations, including Greenpeace Southeast Asia, and thousands of online supporters. The group is demanding an investigation into the top 50 investor-owned fossil fuel companies and their responsibility for climate impacts that endanger people’s lives and livelihoods, as well as that of future generations.

People’s Declaration for Climate Justice

On June 8, 2015, people from the Philippines and Pacific Island countries signed on to the People’s Declaration for Climate Justice to demonstrate the willingness of people to use national, regional, and international mechanisms to hold the big carbon polluters responsible for breaching their responsibility to protect human rights. The declaration was then handed over to the President of Vanuatu, who warmly received the the People’s Declaration for Climate Justice.